EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF EXPANDED POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF ORBITAL FLOOR DEFECTS

Objective: This study evaluates the efficacy of a medical grade expand ed polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) sheet for reconstruction of the or bital floor. Materials and Methods: Orbital floor defects were created in 10 domestic sheep and reconstructed with the 1-mm thick e-PTFE she et. The surgical sites were evaluated for the development of enophthal mos and biocompatbility at 2 weeks, and at 1-, 2-, 4-, and 6-month int ervals. Results: The results of this study indicate that the e-PTFE ma terial has excellent handling characteristics, provides stability to c orrect surgically created enophthalmos, and causes essentially no fore ign body reaction. Conclusion: Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene proved to be an excellent alloplastic material for the repair of orbital flo or defects in this experimental study.